Love is in the air.

7. Can you stay?

Clark was tired, so tired, and yet her body refuses to fall back to sleep.

So she listens to the faint taps against her window and imagines the beauty of the world beyond her room. Thinking of the rain resting on fresh leaves, mud while turned to slush remained untouched. The air would smell damper but undistinguished, imagining the bugs and insects hiding away under leaves and mushrooms maybe even trash left behind.

Daydreaming of walking into the light rain without feeling the shiver between her shoulders, the clothes clinging to her skin like unwanted hands.

Seeing the rebirth of a world washed away of sin, which would never last, in an endless cycle of sin, rain, rebirth, and repeat.

The colors are so vibrant and alive against the dead dull bricks and concrete made by man, it is a beautiful dream and it comes to life with every pit-patter of rain against her window, it wasn't until a light shuffle of the bedsheets Clark realized she had not only slept in her own bed once more but she wasn't alone.

Clark watched as Pierce rolled onto his side facing her, still deep in his sleeping world almost pulling his hand off her waist but relenting to the warmth. She could feel his chest rise and fall with every breath that tickled her nose, it was oddly comforting.

The daydream of the world beyond her window became silent as Clark eased, feeling as if she had slept in his arms a million nights before now.

She couldn't get used to it, it was just a one-time thing at least until their friendship grew. If it grew, Clark wanted to know so much more about him and unfortunately staring at him as he slept did not reveal any answers.

Just as she was wondering about him, Pierce's eyelashes lightly fluttered and slowly but still faster than she realized, his lips gently pressed against her forehead.

Clark was stunned and felt a hot blush creep into her cheeks, blinking profusely at his sleepy face.

Perhaps he hadn't realized what he'd just done?

"Morning."

"Uhh...morning?"

Sensing her hesitance he rubbed his eyes with his other hand that wasn't holding onto Clark, taking a moment before his mouth opened wide, his eyebrows shot up and he lifted his arm up in surrender.

"I'm so sorry! I swear I didn't mean to do anything like that!"

Clark smiled at him, feeling a mix of surprise and for some reason sadness. Taking his hand without thinking and coming a little close to his side,

"It's okay, it was actually rather nice. I was more surprised by the kiss."

Pierce watched her almost with horror as he reached up to his lips, the grey eyes almost seeming elsewhere.

"W-we ki-kissed?"

She shook her head abruptly and almost squeaked,

"No! Not that sort of kiss...you kissed my forehead when you woke up, did you..?"

Clark didn't want to finish that question, she felt a ball inside her stomach falling as she imagined his response. Her eyes only looked up at him when he released a deep breath,

"Sorry I...I didn't mean to do that without permission, I thought you were a part of my dream. I've never kissed anyone before..."

Clark scoffed and threw her head to the side with an arched eyebrow, avoiding his eyes but watching his face.

"That's a joke right?"

His face didn't twitch like she'd expected, in fact, it only tensed as Pierce pulled his hand from hers, rolling onto his back.

"No, it's not a joke. I never had my first kiss because no girl ever liked me the way I liked them."

Clark felt her face fall, hearing the hurt in his voice as she looked over his face. He was not god-like and overly sculptured like a Greek god that is often the guys in movies the girls want, he was cute though.

"Why didn't they?"

As she asked he sighed, feeling her nudge closer to him.

"I don't know. Maybe it's cause I was born with an extra thumb I had removed with surgery years ago or maybe it's my damn birthmark near my eye, maybe I was just too ugly for them or because my personality was actually good they weren't interested..."

Clark had noticed the birthmark but she didn't know about the thumb, looking close she did see it was a little oddly shaped but she had chubby fingers, and both her 'big toes' were smaller than all her other toes.

Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand just over his chest and looked earnestly at him.

"Look at me, please."

Their eyes met and a soft blush built on her cheeks as her chest was pressed against his side, Clark said truthfully.

"Girls our age are dumb. We both know that boys our age are dumber. They are still needing time to mature and realize what they want and how to wear clothes properly,"

They briefly chuckled before she continued,

"Those girls made a mistake not liking you like that, you're nothing but a gentleman and anyone would be lucky to have you. You have a beautiful heart and that's what matters, one day you'll find the matching heart."

Moments passed and Clark could feel her face reddening as silence sat between them until very slowly, as if time was in slow motion, Pierce leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.

Her eyes were wide for a second before closing and leaning into the kiss which was passionate and loving, not hot or fast like how she had experienced before.

When their kiss ended their foreheads lightly touched and Clark fluttered her eyes asking,

"Y-Your first kiss...you gave it to me?"

"I think you have a beautiful heart too."

It was wonderful and magical, the rising energy in her chest that radiated around her. Leaning in and asking against his lips in a whisper,

"Can you stay?"